C21 An Assassin Came!

Chen Dutian felt little enthusiasm for the upcoming literary competition. Noticing Yan Chen's faintly displeased expression as he sat on the jade stairs, Chen shared a few cups of wine with Pang Yuan before excusing himself from Cloudwatch Palace.

It had been several days since he last visited the Lord Protector's Mansion, and Chen was eager to check on his mother. Shortly after leaving Cloudwatch Palace, however, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Surprised, he turned to see the Second Prince, Yan Beichen, hastening toward him, flanked by two eunuchs in palace attire.

"Young Master Chen, are you heading back?" inquired Yan Beichen.

"Yes, I am. Thank you for your hospitality these past few days. Should you require my assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to send word to the Lord Protector's Mansion," Chen Dutian replied, nodding. He held Yan Beichen in high regard, despite the prince's cunning nature—a far cry from the malevolent Yan Nantian.

"Indeed, I've heard that the Lord Protector will soon return to the capital. Young Master Chen, let's not forget the pact between us," Yan Beichen said earnestly, drawing closer.

Previously, Yan Beichen lacked the power to challenge the Crown Prince, but with the backing of the Chen family, his prospects had brightened. The Lord Protector, Chen Dou, had numerous loyal followers who now wielded significant military influence. Yan Beichen had bet everything on Chen Dutian.

"Rest assured, Second Prince. The day my father returns to the capital will mark the beginning of your reign," Chen Dutian assured him, eager to eliminate the Crown Prince's supporters without delay.

The two men exchanged knowing smiles. Chen Dutian respectfully bowed and took his leave, while Yan Beichen watched him depart, lingering long at the gates of Cloudwatch Palace.

"Second Prince, is Chen Dutian truly trustworthy?" whispered a palace eunuch, stepping forward with concern.

"Not entirely," Yan Beichen's eyes gleamed with a dark intensity, but he quickly composed himself, a slight smile playing on his lips. "The Emperor has harbored doubts about the Chen family for some time now. With the Jademanes' Pavilion Master also summoned back to the Imperial City, the Chens are left with few options."

Yan Beichen turned slowly and whispered to another eunuch clad in palace attire, "Have there been any recent developments with the Crown Prince or Wang Xuanyang?"

"Reporting to the Second Prince, the Crown Prince has been diligently practicing the Dragon Martial Arts, maintaining his strength at the third level of the Astral Wandering realm. However, Wang Xuanyang and the Minister of War have been covertly deploying the Ironclad Legion. General Tang Xuan set out several days ago."

"Mm, inform Commander Lin outside the Imperial City that it's time to act," Yan Beichen said with a slight nod, his demeanor calm and collected, as though he had everything under control.

The eunuch bowed deeply, accepting the command, then vanished into the night with a swift movement. If Chen Dutian had witnessed this, he would have been inwardly astonished to learn that the eunuch attending to him at Cloudwatch Palace was actually an Astral Wandering realm powerhouse!

Clutching the jade pendant given to him by Yan Chen, Chen Dutian stood at the city gates, inhaling deeply with a contented smile. He hummed a tune to himself as he strode eagerly toward the Lord Protector's Mansion.

The Lord Protector's Mansion was situated on the western side of the Imperial Capital, roughly the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn away. As he neared his destination, Chen Dutian suddenly shuddered and halted.

He sensed the presence of several Spirit Convergence realm warriors nearby, and footsteps echoed from behind.

"Has Yan Chen become so eager to dispose of me just after leaving the Imperial City?" Chen Dutian mused with a cold smile, channeling his spiritual energy through his meridians.

During the Golden Autumn Festival, the streets were deserted. The figures approaching from behind were all ninth-level Spirit Convergence realm experts. Chen Dutian turned slowly to face them, and in the moonlight, he saw three muscular men in tight-fitting clothes and masked with black cloths, their eyes fixed on him with lethal intent.

"Who sent you?" Chen Dutian inquired calmly.

Another seven or eight assassins emerged from the shadows on either side of the road, yet Chen Dutian's expression remained fearless.

Although Chen Dutian was only at the sixth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm, he could easily dispatch these assassins with just the Heavenly Handle Sword Technique.

"You don't need to know that much!" A formidable expert at the ninth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm stepped forward, replying icily to Chen Dutian as he slowly drew the long sword from his waist.

"Hmph, if you think you can take my life with just a handful of you... you're sorely underestimating me!" Chen Dutian snorted, as a majestic aura of spiritual energy radiated from him, his hands glowing with a luminescent white light.

"You, a mere sixth-level Spirit Convergence cultivator, dare to be so insolent. Today, I shall see for myself just how capable the son of the Lord Protector truly is!"

Once he finished speaking, the ninth-level Spirit Convergence cultivator didn't immediately attack. Instead, the black-clad men burst out from both sides of the road, brandishing their swords as they lunged at Chen Dutian.

These men were merely at the fifth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm. Chen Dutian merely smirked, not taking them seriously in the slightest. As two sword lights approached, a burst of white light exploded from him, striking the chests of the two assailants with devastating force.

Without moving from his spot, Chen Dutian watched as the two fifth-level Spirit Convergence assassins were sent flying by the spiritual energy he had unleashed.

They hit the ground hard, their bodies twitching for a moment before falling still.

The ninth-level Spirit Convergence Realm assassin, witnessing this, involuntarily gasped in shock, his brow furrowing deeply.

Chen Dutian, with his sixth-level Spirit Convergence strength, had effortlessly slain two fifth-level warriors with a mere gesture. It was alarmingly impressive.

The remaining assassins didn't pause. As more sword lights stabbed towards him from behind, Chen Dutian lightly tapped the ground with his toes, leaping over two meters into the air.

Unleashing the Thundering Fist, a series of punches, transformed from spiritual energy, rapidly descended, making the air around them quiver.

"Crack!"

Over a dozen sword lights were extinguished in mid-air. Chen Dutian landed firmly, then moved with ghostly speed, striking before the three black-clad men could even comprehend his actions. They each screamed miserably as their bodies were hurled more than ten meters away, crashing heavily to the ground.

"These people are no match for me. Come on, all three of you at once!" Chen Dutian casually straightened his clothes, a sneer spreading across his face as he noticed the look of astonishment in the eyes of the other burly men nearby. With a provocative gesture, he beckoned to the three most formidable assassins a short distance away.

Each of these three was at the ninth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm. Realizing that their underlings stood no chance against Chen Dutian, they were inwardly taken aback. In a swift motion, they positioned themselves before Chen Dutian.

"People have been saying that the Lord Protector's son conceals his true strength. Today, in the martial arts contest, even Jiang Daichen and Ling Zechuan fell to you. I must admit, I've underestimated you!"